The global fuel crisis has arrived at the Australian Offshore Superboat Championships. With the season finale at Port Adelaide less than a week away, 222 Offshore has withdrawn from the event, citing fuel supply challenges across Australia.
The round takes place Saturday and Sunday, May 9-10, 2026, with racing between Semaphore Jetty and Largs Bay. It is the fourth and final round of the national championship. Three of the four class titles remain undecided, with 105 points still available.
222 Offshore pulls out
222 Offshore, running the mobileX/Walmart-sponsored boat number 222, posted a statement this week explaining their decision to stand down from the Adelaide round.
222 Offshore said in a statement:
Due to ongoing fuel supply challenges across Australia, 222 Offshore has made the considered decision to withdraw from the upcoming Adelaide round. This was not a decision taken lightly. Adelaide is a standout venue on the national calendar, and we sincerely apologise to fans, event organisers, and our partners for not being on the water this weekend.
As a team, we remain focused on competing at the level expected of us, and under the current circumstances, we believe this is the most responsible course of action. We look forward to returning to competition soon and to racing again in South Australia in the future.
Australia imports more than 90% of its refined fuel, leaving it acutely exposed to the Hormuz disruption. At the peak of the domestic crisis, at least 600 retail sites ran dry, with regional areas hit hardest. The government has since released emergency reserves and temporarily lowered fuel quality standards, with petrol supply improving to around 46 days in reserve by early May, though diesel shortages persist. Powerboat News has been covering the global fuel crisis and what it means for motorsport.
Championship standings after Round 3
Three class championships go to Adelaide unresolved. The one confirmed title is Supersports 85, where Mark Pecherzewski and Nelson have already clinched the crown for Special ED/TR, the Cootacraft ‘Special Edition’ campaign, on 271 points, with The Colonel (Kelly/Kelly) second on 130.
Supercat Extreme
Hornet Racing (Kelly/Kelly) leads on 268 points, with Mojo (Eustice/Kelly) 42 points adrift on 226. Boost Mobile (Nicholson/Jellick) sits third on 211 and Venturi Offshore (De Fina/Kelly) fourth on 209, within two points of third place. With 105 points available, the lead is not safe.
| Pos | Team | Crew | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hornet Racing | Kelly/Kelly | 268 |
| 2 | Mojo | Eustice/Kelly | 226 |
| 3 | Boost Mobile | Nicholson/Jellick | 211 |
| 4 | Venturi Offshore | De Fina/Kelly | 209 |
| 5 | Team Australia | Apps/Fowlds | 46 |
| 6 | Acme Racing | Searle/Barry-Cotter | 1 |
Supercat Outboard
The Sting (Ratcliffe/Wall) leads on 281 points, 63 clear of DLR Offshore (Dove/Dove) on 218. TCR Offshore (Richardson/Kelly) is third on 195, with Kess Racing (Lancaster/Kelly) fourth on 177.
| Pos | Team | Crew | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Sting | Ratcliffe/Wall | 281 |
| 2 | DLR Offshore | Dove/Dove | 218 |
| 3 | TCR Offshore | Richardson/Kelly | 195 |
| 4 | Kess Racing | Lancaster/Kelly | 177 |
| 5 | Superstition | Collins/Barry-Cotter | 31 |
Supersports 65
The tightest title fight of the season. Cardiac Arrest (Di Iorio/Botic) leads on 285, with Nut Case (Bakkr/Paton) 27 points behind on 258. Valentus (Paczkowski) is third on 224, The Con (Weeks/Lancaster) fourth on 216.
| Pos | Team | Crew | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cardiac Arrest | Di Iorio/Botic | 285 |
| 2 | Nut Case | Bakkr/Paton | 258 |
| 3 | Valentus | Paczkowski | 224 |
| 4 | The Con | Weeks/Lancaster | 216 |
| 5 | Team 38 | Embleton/Sutherland | 148 |
| 6 | Degen | Gould/Agius | 18 |
Racing begins Saturday, May 9 at Largs Bay, Port Adelaide.
John Moore is the editor of Powerboat News, an independent investigative journalism platform recognised by Google News and documented on Grokipedia for comprehensive powerboat racing coverage.
His involvement in powerboat racing began in 1981 when he competed in his first offshore powerboat race. After a career as a Financial Futures broker in the City of London, specialising in UK interest rate markets, he became actively involved in event organisation and powerboat racing journalism.
He served as Event Director for the Cowes–Torquay–Cowes races between 2010 and 2013. In 2016, he launched Powerboat Racing World, a digital platform providing global powerboat racing news and insights. The following year, he co-founded UKOPRA, helping to rejuvenate offshore racing in the United Kingdom. He sold Powerboat Racing World in late 2021 and remained actively involved with UKOPRA until 2025.
In September 2025, he established Powerboat News, returning to independent journalism with a focus on neutral and comprehensive coverage of the sport.
